Rankine cycle ejector augmented turbine engine

Abstract

Energy is extracted from a high-temperature high-pressure working fluid by augmenting flow of the working fluid with a flow of gas having a molecular weight less than the fluid, utilizing some of the energy from the working fluid to induce addition and mixture of the gas in an ejector creating a flow of the mixed fluids having a greater mass and lower temperature than the initial flow of working fluid and supplying the mixed fluids to a turbine which converts the energy in the mixed fluids into mechanical energy. The exhausted fluids are separated and at least the augmenting gas is recycled to the ejector. The gas is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, helium, nitrogen, air, water vapor, or an organic compound having a molecular weight less than the working fluid, and the working fluid is selected from the group consisting of an inorganic element, an inorganic compound, or a fluorocarbon.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. The process of extracting energy from a high-temperature high-pressure working fluid, comprising augmenting flow of the working fluid with a flow of gas from a source separate from the working fluid,   utilizing some of the energy from the working fluid to induce addition and mixture of the gas thereinto and thereby to create a flow of the mixed fluids having a greater mass and lower temperature than the initial flow of working fluid,   supplying the mixed fluids to a turbine for converting the energy in the mixed fluids into mechanical energy, and   separating and recycling at least the augmenting gas from the fluid flow exhausted from the turbine.   
     
     
       2. The process defined in claim 1 wherein the working fluid has a molecular weight greater than the gas. 
     
     
       3. The process defined in claim 1, wherein the gas is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, helium, nitrogen, air, water vapor, or an organic compound having a molecular weight less than the working fluid.   
     
     
       4. The process defined in claim 1, wherein the working fluid is selected from the group consisting of an inorganic element, an inorganic compound, or a fluorocarbon, and   the selected fluid has a molecular weight greater than the gas.   
     
     
       5. A Rankine cycle augmented flow turbine engine comprising a source of high-temperature high-pressure working fluid providing the sole energy input to the engine,   an ejector including a primary nozzle receiving working fluid from said source and a secondary nozzle connected to supply augmenting gas into said ejector,   a turbine receiving a flow of lower temperature lower pressure mixed gas and working fluid from said ejector,   a heat exchanger receiving the exhaust from said turbine and cooling the working fluid to liquid,   and means directing the cooled augmenting gas back to said secondary nozzle and directing the liquid working fluid back to said source.   
     
     
       6. A turbine engine comprising a turbine having an inlet and an outlet for a flow of working fluid,   an ejector having inlets for separate fluid flows, one inlet serving to induce inflow from the other, and having an outlet for the mixed inflow of fluids,   a source of high temperature thermodynamic working fluid connected to said one inlet of said ejector,   a source of gas separate from said working fluid and connected to said other inlet of said ejector to augment the mass flow of working fluid,   said ejector outlet being connected to said turbine inlet,   a heat exchanger having an inlet receiving mixed fluid from said turbine outlet and an outlet,   a gas/liquid separator receiving the cooled fluids from said outlet of said heat exchanger and providing separate outlets for the cooled working fluid and the gas, and   the gas outlet of said separator being connected to said other inlet of said ejector.   
     
     
       7. A turbine engine as defined in claim 6, wherein said source of working fluid is a vaporizer providing a means to add heat energy to the working fluid,   said vaporizer having an inlet receiving cooled working fluid from said separator,   whereby separate closed loops are provided for the working fluid and for the augmenting gas.   
     
     
       8. A turbine engine as defined in claims 6 or 7, wherein the working fluid has a molecular weight greater than the gas.   
     
     
       9. A turbine engine as defined in claims 6 or 7, wherein the gas is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, helium, nitrogen, air, water vapor, or an organic compound having a molecular weight less than the working fluid.   
     
     
       10. A turbine engine as defined in claim 9, wherein the working fluid is mercury and the gas is selected from hydrogen or helium.   
     
     
       11. A turbine engine is defined in claim 9, wherein the working fluid is water and the gas is selected from hydrogen or helium.   
     
     
       12. A turbine engine as defined in claims 6 or 7, wherein the working fluid is selected from the group consisting of an inorganic element, an inorganic compound, or a fluorocarbon,   the selected fluid having a molecular weight greater than the gas.   
     
     
       13. The turbine engine of claims 6, 7, or 8, in which said ejector has a primary supersonic nozzle receiving flow from said one inlet and has a secondary subsonic nozzle for receiving working fluid from said other inlet, in which the ratio of areas of said secondary to said primary nozzles is in the order of 100 to 1.